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Published September 2026

1 of 4Every surface of every tooth is looked at with a mirror
  1. Every surface of every tooth is looked at with a mirror
  2. The gums are measured with a probe
  3. Each finding goes on a chart, healthy or worth watching
  4. The exam is the starting point for anything written on a plan

Who usually does it

general dentist. Done in every general office. A gum specialist (periodontist) may do the full gum exam.

One question worth asking

What did you find today, and is there anything you are keeping an eye on?

Routine check-up exam

Check-ups and X-raysPreventiveD0120

D0120. The regular exam for a returning patient, usually twice a year, and the one most plans pay for in full.

A dental exam is when the dentist looks at your teeth, gums and mouth, checks old dental work, and decides whether anything needs attention. The codes differ by how much of the mouth is checked and whether it is a first visit, a routine return visit, or a visit for one specific problem.

An exam is mostly looking and listening. The dentist goes over each tooth, the gums, the bite and the soft tissue, and writes down what has changed since last time. A first visit takes longer than a routine return visit, and a problem-focused visit looks at one tooth only. Most plans file this as Preventive. What they actually pay varies by plan.

Codes for this

D0120PreventiveRoutine check-up examThe regular exam for a returning patient, usually twice a year, and the one most plans pay for in full.per visit · Done oftenD0140PreventiveProblem-focused examAn exam for one specific problem, such as a toothache, rather than a full check of the mouth.per visit · Done oftenD0145PreventiveCheck-up for a child under threeA first exam for a very young child that includes advice for the parent on brushing and diet.per visit · Done oftenD0150PreventiveNew patient full examA complete top-to-bottom exam for a new patient or after a long gap, more thorough than the routine check-up.per visit · Done oftenD0160BasicDetailed exam for a complex problemA longer exam with extra records for a complicated problem, usually by a specialist.per visit · Done sometimesD0170BasicFollow-up check on a known problemA short re-check of something the dentist is already watching, not a new exam.per visit · Done sometimesD0171BasicFollow-up visit after surgeryThe check-up after a procedure to see how healing is going; often no charge from the office that did the surgery.per visit · Done sometimesD0180PreventiveFull gum examA complete exam that also measures every gum pocket, used when gum disease is suspected or being tracked.per visit · Done oftenD0190PreventiveDental screeningA quick look to decide whether a full dental visit is needed, often at a school or community event.per visit · Done sometimesD0191PreventiveQuick check for mouth diseaseA brief visual check for signs of disease, shorter than a screening and not a full exam.per visit · Done sometimes

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Routine check-up exam (D0120): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar